Crisp loose-leaf paper, colorful three-ring binders, sturdy pocket folders and every type of notebook imaginable are only a few of the items neatly organized in the Iroquois Middle School supply closet.
Created by French teacher Lynne Macko, the supply closet was designed to help provide school supplies to Iroquois students who can’t afford them.
Macko began collecting new and gently used school supplies when she started teaching in Niskayuna over 10 years ago. She created the stockpile to ensure all students have the materials needed to succeed in the classroom.
“It’s such an elegant way to meet a need… I love the look on a student’s face when I can give them what they need and the stress just disappears,” said Macko.
The initiative started several years ago as an unofficial stash in an old closet. Before capital project work associated with reimagining middle level education began at Iroquois in January 2023, Macko moved the supplies to her classroom for safekeeping during construction.
In June 2025, the supply closet grew larger than ever before after Macko was awarded a $600 Niskayuna Community Foundation grant to purchase new cabinets to house the stockpile.
Once construction was complete and the new cabinets were installed ahead of the 2025-26 school year, the Iroquois supply closet officially reopened for students in a more central, accessible location.
“As we have more students at Iroquois than ever before, I wanted to make sure that this resource was available for teachers to supply students in a discreet way,” Macko explained. “They can achieve their academic goals without stressing over having the supplies they need for each class.”
Teachers and guidance counselors can retrieve items for students in need or students can access the supply closet themselves. Students do not need to prove need to receive supplies from the closet.
“What I especially like is when the teacher brings the student and says, ‘Pick out what you like,’” said Macko. “If there’s a nice choice of binders, somebody might want that unicorn binder, and somebody else might want that dinosaur binder.”
Teachers aren’t the only ones stocking the supply closet shelves. Many students have donated their new and gently used supplies to the closet on locker cleanout day. According to Macko, the majority of the supplies currently in the closet were collected in bins as students cleared out lockers at the end of the year.
“I usually go through it myself and the kids help me sort at the end of the year,” said Macko. “I get some volunteers to help me.”
Macko hopes the supply closet continues to grow over the next few years and that students always have access to learning materials. She has also spoken with math teachers to compile a list of calculators compatible with current math courses.
Students, teachers and community members who would like to donate to the supply closet can do so by contacting Macko at lmacko@niskyschools.org.
You must be logged in to post a comment.